Wednesday Vigil 8th November 2017

By Kingstone Jambawo
President Robert Mugabe has been in power since the country attained independence in 1980 and has been at the helm for 38 years. Grace Mugabe announced on Saturday that there was nothing wrong if her husband appointed her [to VP]. Robert Mugabe has now fired his deputy fuelling speculation that he wants to promote his wife.

Braving the cold weather, members of Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation (ZHRO), called the Mugabe's out for at this Wednesday Vigil. chanting and singing "37’years is too long!", and No to a Mugabe dynasty” the demonstrators called for a multi-party democracy which is still a dream after decades of dictatorship.

The ZHRO Wednesday vigil has been established to protest against the despotic rule of Zanu-PF and campaign for the restoration of human rights in Zimbabwe.

Group Photo Wednesday

Mugabe has so far appointed
his controversial wife, Grace, to various key posts within his ruling Zanu-PF party as a way of positioning her to assume power.

By getting her husband to fire the former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Grace is clearing her way to lead the ruling Zanu-PF party when her husband leaves office or becomes incapacitated.

The most likely scenario that is about to unfold is an extraordinary congress in December which will make Grace the second Vice President. Within a few days or weeks, Robert will be sent to Singapore for a check up, go on leave - sick or otherwise - to allow Grace to become the Acting President. This will gives her and Zanu-PF the opportunity to gauge the mood of the people whilst making the situation normal. A few months or weeks later, Mugabe retires due to illness or old age -whatever reason is given - Grace becomes the substantive Zimbabwean President going into the 2018 elections. But don't forget, she will have the powers to postpone the elections indefinitely until when she is confident of garnering the required vote or cultivated a situation that suits her.

Plenty of Messages of protest

All progressive Zimbabweans must put their differences aside and kick out Mugabe and their clan from all Offices.


See photographs on flickr - CLICK THIS LINK

YOU TUBE Video Link Here - singing the "ZHRO Song"

Thanks to those who attended this week’s vigil: Roseline Mukucha, Rashiwe Bayisayi, Sarah Bayisayi, John Burke, Mary Muteyerwa, Ebson Chigwedere, Philip Mahlahla, Chipochedenga Parirenyatwa, Lynette Chivizhe, Alfredy Mukuvare, Morella Nhau, Precious Moyo, Annita Ndlovu, Namatirai Angela Sithole, Salom Nkiwane, Florence Marowa, Kingstone Jambawo, Sibongile Bvungidzire, Elector Zvorwadza, Nancy Makurira, Bongani Moyo, Gladys H. Meck and Gibson Mberi.

What is Activism?

ac·tiv·ism  (ăk′tə-vĭz′əm)
noun.
The use of direct, often confrontational action, such as a demonstration or strike, in opposition to or support of a cause.

activism (ˈæktɪˌvɪzəm)
noun
(Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a policy of taking direct and often militant action to achieve an end, esp a political or social one
ˈactivist - noun

Lest we forget what activism is about, a couple of dictionary definitions of ACTIVISM.

Zimbabweans entering theior own Embassy to protest

For those in Zimbabwe few are happy with the state of affairs in the economy, or for any form of opposition to the dictates on an illegal "Government" [ a Zanu PF regime masquerading as a Government when they are in fact a military junta, whose sole purpose is to remain in power so they can continue to loot every facet of the wealth of Zimbabwe].

For those who have been forced to flee Zimbabwe, activism is one method to secure change. For those in Zimbabwe Activism can be a death sentence - those who tread this path do so very carefully.

The illegal Government of Zimbabwe has recently appointed a failed Finance Minister to head a Cyber Security, Threat Detection, and Mitigation Ministry.

Law expert, Alex Magaisa, said this week that “But more ominously creating a standalone Ministry to monitor cyberspace also shows Mugabe's penchant for expanding instruments of coercion as opposed to protection of fundamental freedoms. Chinamasa's new role should send alarm bells ringing in both civil society and the opposition. The hand of state repression is only getting stronger and Chinamasa will try to justify the relevance of his new role..”

“People have been making jokes about this ministry but I see serious threat to freedom of expression, access to information and the right to privacy,” said Chris Musodza, an ICT expert based in Harare. “We now have a ministry dedicated to surveillance and monitoring of the cyberspace.”

Clearly the 'state apparatus' will do its utmost to stamp out opposition, or the means of communication - which will subvert their own domination of 'traditional' media channels.

“People shouldn't be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people.” Alan Moore

This should be the state of affairs for all Governments, but alas most will fail this test, and those like Zimbabwe are working from the other end of this scale [of natural justice]. So for a band of Zimbabweans to walk into their own embassy to challenge the the evil regime and its state apparatus IS activism, it is a symbolic act. - To change perception, to challenge a nation so cowed by a dictator, that the removal of his portrait from the wall of the Embassy is actually seen as treason - ironically and most telling, tragically the same dictator responsible [but as yet unpunished] for the genocide known as Gukurahundi, but also torture, rape, abductions, murder to the present day. 

Their motto has to be "voters need to be afraid of what we will do if you do not vote Zanu PF back into their comfort zone of looting and elitism"

The Zanu PF junta rules Zimbabwe, with an iron fist in an iron glove, and with iron Jack Boots. Their position as a purported "democratically elected Government" [sic] has to be challenged, not just by Zimbabweans, but by the rest of the World. Zanu PF are a criminal cabal, with much more in common with a terrorist organisation than the rest of the World should tolerate.

Embassy Invasion 27th September 2017

After the invasion!

27th September 2017 a group of around 20 Zimbabweans "visited" their own Embassy to protest at the injustices within Zimbabwe.
All 20 were thrown out, quite illegally

See the video here